F1 2025 Round 19: United States Grand Prix Preview

IMAGE: Flickr/Smarter Within

It will be lights out for the first race of a double header this weekend as Formula One arrives in Austin at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) for the United States Grand Prix. 

It is Round 19 of this 24 race season and the Constructors Champions for 2025 have already been crowned as McLaren put in a dominant performance this season so far to make it back-to-back Constructors title wins. 

It is a Sprint Race format this weekend, meaning there is a maximum of 33 points up for grabs and the weekend will run as follows:
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Friday:
Practice 1 - 6.30pm BST
Sprint Qualifying - 10.30pm BST 

Saturday:
Sprint Race - 6pm BST
Qualifying - 10pm BST

Sunday:
United States Grand Prix - 8pm BST

The Track

Making its debut onto the F1 calendar in 2012, the Circuit of the Americas is a 3.4 mile circuit made up of 20 corners and elevation changes giving the drivers plenty to think about.

This 56-lap race will see the drivers put to the test on a track that is very popular amongst the grid from a driving and atmosphere stand point - with plenty of design features resembling those of other iconic tracks, e.g., the Esses are very much inspired by the iconic high-speed Maggotts and Becketts section of the Silverstone Circuit of course. 

This track has provided great action over the years with plenty of brilliant overtakes and battles taking place over the short time the track has been part of F1. 

Strategy will be a difficult one to manage with heat warnings put in place this weekend due to the temperature surpassing the threshold into the 30s, meaning the 'heat hazard' is in play.

This means cars will be required to have the cooling systems needed in place and drivers will have the option to wearing cooling vests under their race suits to help keep the temperature in the cockpit down. 

Championship Battle

The championship battle has really started to hot up with no surprise that McLaren is the big talking point going into this weekend. 

Oscar Piastri still leads the way with 336 points but his teammate Lando Norris is only 22 points behind and after a clash between the two teammates last time out in Singapore saw Piastri come home in fourth behind Norris, the stakes are high within the McLaren side. 

Max Verstappen is also not to be counted out. He has been on good form in recent races, with a win in Azerbaijan and a second place finish in Singapore means he only sits 63 points adrift off the lead.

In other news, a win this weekend for Lewis Hamilton would mean he would have seven wins around this circuit - Ferrari will be hoping for a good weekend as we go into the latter stages of the season. 

Katie Shepherd 
Writer - F1 Journal